DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Jimmy Haslam: We won't tolerate irresponsible players

LOL...........you are funny.

I agree w/most of that, but you have defended Gordon and you don't say squat about Gilbert, who is making more money and was drafted higher than JM.

Won't speak for the rest of us here, just my sweet self, but I cannot and I refuse to say that I can see JM as "the face of the Browns." Has to look up to see bottom. We had to take a look. We have. Next.

That about sums it up.

At the very least he isn't a bore.

Too bad for us he can't cut it in the pros. I really wanted him to be that guy (our next great QB) - and Lord knows we need that here in Browns Town, but he isn't the one.

I'm going to piggyback on your post with something that hasn't really been explored yet... at least not in this particular light.

If JM really wants to be a pro QB, this year was probably the very best thing that could have happened to him.

He came into 'The League Of Distinguished Men' as cocky, brash 21 year-old kid... and promptly got the tightest ass-whoopin he's probably ever received. "Welcome to the NFL, kid" (with apologies to our friend Lemmy... )

Had to compete for a starting job. Lost.
Had a 'package' designed especially for him. Shelved.
Positive press turned to negative press because of off-field issues.
Called a 'midget' by an established NFL coach.
Harassed, shellacked, and mocked by that coach's players... in front of the home town crowd.
Banged up, beat up, and benched up in his second start of an NFL career.

------------

Ego and pride are two entirely different things. Ego, JM had aplenty. This humbling experience playing with Real Men should surely bruise that. If not, he's a dunce who will flame out in 2 years or less... and the League will hardly remember him.

If however, he has a measure of pride, he'll take this smack-down, use it as fuel to reassert himself to The Game, and place the humiliation back upon his tormentors when his opportunity arises.

The difference between 'ego' and 'pride' is determined by a person's character. So far, he's only shown us the former. Of the latter.... well, that remains to be seen.

He got his first taste of adulthood this year. Real Life don't play. Real Life don't care about JM. It will take its measure of him whether he thinks it's fair or not. How he responds (as a young adult) will go a long way in determining his next 10 years... and possibly beyond. This is going to take work. A LOT of work. And that's where his character will be revealed.

I wish him well, I really do. He's a Brown, he's just getting started in life... and I'm a sucker for success stories that begin with adversity.

Time to become a man, Young Mister Manziel. Can you do it... on one of the world's biggest stages?

What an interesting story to watch unfold.

Saying Johnny is facing adversity is an insult to those who face actual adversity. What he has to overcome is his own self-created drama.

Needs to keep his mouth shut, stop whoring for attention and get better at football.

Gordon.. bye bye..

Manziel.. he gets one shot to prove himself.

Gilbert.. keep him.. u can never have too many good corners...

I don't think any of these guys are in the 'bye-bye' category.

Gordon would be the closest, but he's also the only one that has shown he has NFL skills, and elite ones, at that. I hate the guy's track record as much as anyone else here (ok, maybe not vers ) but the guy has skills. Simply thinking logically, I don't think the FO lets him go because of that.

I think they actually take the WR position seriously this time around, and look to position themselves where the talent level doesn't take a hit when they do toss his butt.

Manziel could be closer to being tossed because he really didn't show much as far as NFL skills, and managing his negative press has been a nightmare. I think Pettine and Farmer take a serious look at his chances of developing into a legit NFL QB, and make their decision from there (which I predict will end up with us hanging onto him).

Gilbert I'm willing to give a pass. I think the coaches have already decided all he needs is a bunch of tough love to get his head into it. I like that he did show improvement from the beginning of the year to later. I don't hold it against him that an UDFA played well. K'Waun Williams play and Gilbert's play are two separate things.

'Ray Farmer expects Josh Gordon to fight suspension, indicates he could be gone'

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ss..._social_feature

By Mary Kay Cabot, Northeast Ohio Media Group on December 30, 2014 at 5:50 PM, updated December 30, 2014 at 6:52 PM

BEREA, Ohio -- Browns general manager Ray Farmer expects a battle from Josh Gordon's representatives on his suspension for the Ravens game and subsequent delayed year of free agency. He also acknowledged the Browns are trying to determine if Gordon is worth the trouble.

"I'm sure that they probably will contest it,'' said Farmer in his season wrap-up press conference Tuesday. "From our perspective it is what it is and we'll deal with that through the right channels."

The Browns have grown tired of Gordon's indiscretions and are contemplating cutting him. His latest misstep was oversleeping for the Saturday morning walk-through, which resulted in the one-game suspension for the season finale. It followed a series of tardies for which he was fined.

"I'm not one to talk publicly about my interactions with the players, and I've had conversations with Josh, recent and past,'' said Farmer. "When the final determination is made, Josh will be the first to know and then everybody else will find out after that."

Gordon's suspension cost him an accrued season, which requires six games on the active roster. He was active for only five. His representatives have been trying to work something out with the Browns, but are expected to file a grievance. The suspension could cost Gordon millions, because he's now set to become an unrestricted free agent after 2016 instead of 2015.

If the Browns try to trade Gordon when the new league year opens in March, the extra year of rights would be beneficial. His $1.33 million average salary makes him a tradeable commodity. Most top receivers make $11 million to $16 million.

Gordon has supporters on a number of teams, including the Vikings (former Browns assistants Norv and Scott Turner), the Colts (former Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski) and Broncos (former Browns GM Tom Heckert).

Farmer said the Browns will huddle to determine whether or not to keep the three players that gave them problems this season: Gordon, Manziel and Justin Gilbert.

"That'll be a conversation that we have between the staff and the coaches,'' he said. "We'll make that determination, and then if it does happen, it'll happen in time. It won't happen today."

He wouldn't say that Gordon, who's been suspended twice by the NFL for violations of the substance-abuse policy, is a lost cause.

"I strive in every respect to give every guy the opportunity to achieve success,'' said Farmer. "I will fight tooth-and-nail to get those guys those things (they need), and when they demonstrate that they're either un-saveable or we can't help them anymore, or they don't want the help, then we'll move on.''

Farmer stressed that Gordon's issues may outweigh his immense talent.

"One of the things that I was told when I was a young player in this league is that your best ability may be your availability,'' said Farmer. "You've got to be accountable to yourself, to others and to this organization. I think that Jimmy (Haslam) made that clear after the game. I think that Pett (Mike Pettine) made that clear yesterday. I guess I'm just putting the period on it today.''

He disagreed with Browns left tackle Joe Thomas that Gordon's return after 10 games this year was a detriment to the offense.

"No one person causes or derails anything,'' he said. "We as a group have to overcome whatever obstacles we have, and we didn't do that late in the year. I wouldn't put that on Josh. I wouldn't put that on any one individual."

He said he doesn't regret not drafting a receiver in the aftermath of Gordon's drug ban.

"I know everyone says I'm stubborn or I'm going to be obstinate about this wide receiver position, but I just think that at the end of the day an offensive line affects every single play of the game,'' he said. "A wide receiver may touch the ball 10 times if he's having a great day, so I just like the idea of 'let's get the guys that affect the game all the time, and let's try and get those guys and make a difference for our football team.' ''

Between Farmer's philosophy on elite receivers and Gordon's off-the-field issues, it wouldn't be a surprise for the Browns to part ways this offseason.

Thinking logically, they suspended him for the final game. Do you really think it was to possibly keep him around for an extra year? Remember, he's filing suit against the team for doing it. He's proven to be unprofessional in his behavior, why should they want to keep him around?

there is another reason to keep him under contract a year longer, it would make him better trade bait.

If I had the chance to sell him for a 2nd round pick I'd take it and never look back

If I had the chance to sell him for a 2nd round pick I'd take it and never look back.[/color]

Having 2 years under his rookie contract makes him more valuable in trade than having only one year remaining.